N .Z. hopes may hinge on Howarth’s spin of Parker’s ‘lucky coin’

Press, 22 February 1980, Page 24

N .Z. hopes may hinge on Howarth’s spin of Parker’s ‘lucky coin’

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

The first act in the second test today could prove to be the most vital one. When Geoffrey Howarth goes out to toss with Clive Lloyd, he will carry with him New Zealand s hopes and a 50c coin John i arkei has found to be a lucky one.

Parker’s coin, Howarth’s spin, and Lloyd’s call are likely to have a considerable influence on the course of the game. Although a lot of grass has been taken off the Lancaster Park pitch, it still wore a distinctly green colour yesterday and although it is hard, very likely to last well, and produce good batting conditions after the first few hours, the morning play will almost certainly be encouraging for the speed and seam bowlers. The West Indies, in announcing their twelve last evening, included both the outstanding fast bowler, Andy Roberts, and the off-spin-ner, Derek Parry, who played in the first test at Dunedin. Provided he is fit, Roberts seems certain to play, with Parry being dropped. Michael Holding during the “Battle of Carisbrook” was a most formidable figure. His partnership with Roberts will give the Lancaster Park crowd a look at a great fast bowling combination, certainly comparable with Lindwall and Miller, Trueman and Statham, Hall and Griffith. In concert, each is likely to be of benefit to the other.

Holding is a superb athlete, and he is unlikely to repeat the general. West Indies error 'at Carisbrook, of bowling too short. Roberts, who already has 145 test wickets, is a bowler of demanding pace and high skills. Supporting these two are Colin '.Croft,' who was the side’s best bowler at Carisbrook and Joel Garner, who also gave the New? Zealand

batsmen a torrid time. If New Zealand fields first, it will not be able to match the West Indies in hostility. In Richard Hadlee it has a bowler of the highest class, but support for him will have to come mainly from tight, accurate, bowling and swift, sure fielding. Gary Troup gave a splendid exhibition in the first test and another whole-hearted performance can be expected of him in this match. The New Zealand team will not be announced until this morning, but the probability is that it will be the same eleven which won so narrowly at Carisbrook. Thought maye be given to leaving out Stephen Boock, but it is likely to be a brief one. Jeremy Coney is.now fit to bat and bowl, but ’nd decision has yet been made about fielding him in the slips, where there might be a danger of further damage to his injured finger.- Andy, Roberts might possibly come.>■ in .for John Parker. The . selectors however may be influenced by history. , Parker has had more narrow escapes' from extinction than the famous Pearl White, who spent much of her silent screen career tied to railway lines. He has always. managed to emerge with credit from these dire situations. The New Zealand batsmen can expect to be under very heavy pressure if they are first "in this morning, and if the West Indies bat, there is not likely to be very much of the carefree cricket for

which West Indies sides] have been noted. The West Indies have a string of very gpod batsmen, and the side will be glad to have Lloyd fit again.. Desmond Haynes gave outstanding service in the first test, and it will be difficult to dislodge Gordon Greenidge twice for small scores again. Lawrence Rowe is due to find his best form. He made few runs at Dunedin, but looked a very good batsman. New Zealand’s middle order did not distinguish itself in the first test but the team has an admirable, fighting spirit and something better can be expected this time. If the match is as bitterlyfought, and as close, as the first test, it will go to the side which resists the final fierce pressures. If that is how it is to be resolved, New Zealand goes into the game with an equal chance. More than once on tour the West Indies have shown fallibility at critical times. Both teams practised yesterday. The New Zealanders had only a quarter of an hour at the Christ’s College ground before rain drove them to the indoor school. The West Indians, at Lancaster Park, had some fielding practice and exercising. . Lloyd was the only batsman to have a net and with the grass treacherously' wet, the bowlers ran from only a few paces. “We will go into the test as the underdogs, just as we did at Dunedin”, said the New Zealand captain, How-

iarth. “But if we have the same application and the same frame of mind, there is no reason why we should not compete fully. If we play as well again, there is no reason why we should not win this test.” New Zealand has only once before won the first test of a series. That was against England, two years ago. It has only once won a test rubber, against Pakistan in 1969. The prize of a first test series victory at home is a rich one and a very useful spur to the New Zealanders. The teams are.—

West Indies: C. Lloyd (captain), C. G. Greenidge, A. M. Roberts, M. A. Holding, D. L. Murray, C. E. Croft, J. Garner, D. L. Haynes, A. I. Kallicharran, C. L. King, L. G. Rowe, D. R. Parry (one to be omitted). New Zealand: G. P. Howarth (Captain), J. C. Wright B. A. Edgar, J. M. Parker, A. D. Roberts. B. L. Cairns, R. J. Hadlee, S. L. Boock, P. N. Webb, G. B. Troup, J. V. Coney and W. K. Lees (one to be omitted). The New Zealand reserve fieldsman will be Paul McEwan, of Canterbury, who has willingly given up another sporting engagement of some consequence. As the senior champion of the McLeans Island golf club, he was to have played in the Peter Stuyvesant inter-club district final at Waimairi Beach on Sunday. But this is a Rothman’s cricket tour, so at least he is still with the firm.